Bought this years ago for my daughter’s birth year and finally finally was able to share it on her 21st. Notes are remarkably similar to April 2021, her 18th bday bottle so I won’t repeat. This bottle still has plenty of life. Abreu is clearly a great choice for birth year wines that can go the distance. This still had plenty of ripe but not over ripe fruit. Tannins were present and noticeable, perhaps not as smooth as you would expect but they add character. Overall a lovely wine.
Opened for my daughter’s 18th bday. Very lively fruit, big berries, a bit of spice and zing, tannins are still alive and kicking but pleasant (although not necessarily smooth), great acid. The best thing about this wine was the finish. After taking a sip the finish lasts and then fades normally, but suddenly the flavor reappears and seems to keep going for a long time. Decanted for one hour and drank over the next two. Best at about 60-90 min. We all enjoyed it and look forward to the last bottle of this at 21 years.
Ugh what a bummer- a truly magically wine but flawed tonight. Thinner than the previous three bottles over the last six months displaying a more pronounced acid profile. Oh well ran a good streak for a 17 year old wine.
Occasional dinner group: Great whites and Cult Napa (@ Merlet): Dark berries and sweet spices in the bouquet. On the palate juicy dark berries, Beautiful acidity and round, soft tannin. Red berries and a good length. Great and luxurious wine which is ready now and the next 5+ years.
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This one was poured quickly between another flight and don't have notes. All I remember was the Colgin was great. This got overshadowed. Heritage Wine Blind Tasting Finals after-party at Jean-George Las Vegas
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PnP then decanted for 2 hours and tasted throughout at Cafe Monarch. Holly crap this over delivered! WTF absolutely a stunner. Head Somm utters without being provoked, ‘whoa that is a crazy nose’.
Nose is Christmas in the glass with Hanukkah thrown in for good measure. Is that maple syrup and brown sugar that first jump from the glass? Blackberry, almost an amarone hint followed by a sweet forest floor (not intrusive and barely noticeable yet actually/strangely enhances the palate), dark black raspberry, black currant (not cassis)- damn that is really good juice and has years left for further enjoyment. Excellent and a very rare 95+ rating.
Consumed over 2 hours. Decanted and recorked an hour prior to dinner. This is such an unusual wine. Most be the cab franc in it that gives it a unique flavor. Wife thought it was a super Tuscan. Loved it and have one more bottle. Has a nutmeg, meaty, Syrah type texture. Some tannins remain which were a bit chunky before decanting. Typical for Napa this is a large scaled serious wine with a slightly sweet and dark fruit finish
Mixed bag here. The table was a love or hate it. I thought this was fantastic. Mostly red fruit with Bordeauxish secondary notes. No tannins or oak left, red acidic fruits waning. Drink up.
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Deep, concentrated, extracted, still has a dollop of sweet new oak, serious richness and concentration, but I'm not finding any elegance and this is far from pretty. The texture here is interesting because the tannins are breaking down and one can sense the grainy quality to the wine amidst the rich fruit and sweet oak. Quality Italian with Jim W. and Joe D'A.
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Decanted over cocktails and served. Deep and dark in color. Thick, full body that evolved over 90 minutes, showing notes of chocolate and caramel at times. Still lots of dark fruit. Very enjoyable.
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I popped this bottle on Christmas Eve and I must say I was a bit disappointed. Perhaps the bottle was a bit off but the wine was subdued with medium red fruit notes and Bordeaux like characteristics. This is not the massive, fruit-forward, Napa bomb that I thought I was going to be drinking. It was pleasant and pretty and a bit better the second night but still underwhelming as far as I am concerned
This is a special wine. It needs time in the decanter, but it will also change dramatically over several hours, so don't miss the nuances of its evolution simply by letting it sit. This is a wine you need to sit down and enjoy over a long slow evening and it deserves your attention and focus. Every trip back to the glass with unveil something new. Typical dark berries and currants that started out with a bit or concentrated raisiny character at first, but with some aeration turned to more earthy, truffled aromas and some black pepper and tobacco with sweet black cherries and figs. Rich, concentrated, impeccably balanced and with a finish that sings harmoniously on the palate. Tannins are polished and still a bit big, but are less notable with aeration and or course with food. Wish this wine was easier to obtain!!!
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Wow. Still a baby. Layers of rich ripe fruit. Chocolate, toast, smoke, dark cassis wrapped around crisps acids, sultry tannins and layers of concentration. Need to wait 5-10 years
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A step up from the very good 2003 Abreu Madronna, this is a more intense, fleshier experience. Concentrated, rich, fresh and opulent, the array of black dark red and blue fruits, complicated by the licorice, espresso, earth and black cherry liqueur gets your focus. This is drinking quite well today. It might improve, but why wait?
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A little mint, nice, light fruits on the nose. The palate is a lot fruitier with very nice cassis and cranberries. Some dusty tannins and a long finish. I like it, don't love it.
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This wine is a showstopper! The kind of wine that you taste and say "Wow! That is a great bottle of wine! Enjoyed it with others who also enjoyed it!!!!!
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What a difference a couple more years (or a different bottle) makes -- this is astonishing stuff -- rich and meaty on opening and then softens beautifully over several hours.
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Screagle, Kapcsandy, SHS, Abreu, Maybach, Donnhoff, etc., etc. (Downtown Cleveland): This had been double decanted back to the bottle and recorked about 8 hours prior to drinking. It took a while to emerge but kept improving. As it was the last flight, it had the time to do so. The nose has blueberries, cassis and toast. On the palate, this has a lush texture. It kept unwinding showing more and more complexity. Cassis and black cherries with the slightest bit of cigar tobacco. Seamless. Long finish. Wow.
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Really enjoyed this one. Great mouth feel...rich fruit, and a long 45 second finish. Had a hint of menthol early on that disappeared in an hour. This wine performed best after 3 hours . Preserved (CV'd) some for the next day and it was just as good. Will try another in a year or two.
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Deep ruby color. Scents of dried herbs de provence, some chocolate, roasted coffee, currant. Still very tannic on opening, but after a couple hours in the decanter drank very nicely. Extremely full- bodied, pure Cabernet fruit. Great balance and body. The most outstanding thing to me was the amazingly profound finish. Over 60 seconds & held you at attention the whole time.
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Drank at BlueHour w FS amd LS. Opened and let sit on the table for about 45 minutes while we drank a Premier Cru while Burgundy. Comments all around how dark the wine was including around the edges. Would not have thought it was 10 years old. Amazing aromatics of exotic flowers and exotic spices. I would score the aromatics 99. I feel great aromatics want to cause you to continues swirl and smell and at the same time FORCE you to taste the wine. All I remember for tasting notes in fantastic balance from begging to end with a nice long 30 seconds finish plus I want more. No oakyness. Again it was gone way too soon. I felt sad looking at the glass with the reflection back down the side of the glass coated in fine sediment. I kept thinking glad I have more and have kept on the mailing list as these Abreu’s get pricey which puts this wine at a 98 for me (plus worth the price). I image this actually could get better (or maybe just different) but in no way am I not starting in on the 2004’s.
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Very serious wine. Minerality was amazing as was the purity of fruit. Tasted like the Latour of Napa. Powerful dark red cherry. A profound wine with a masculine muscle.
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Popped and decanted at a restaurant in Virginia Beach, VA. Big, rich, and complex. But, it may have been in an adolescent phase as the fruit and secondary notes were not completely harmonious. Wet stone and earth gave way to menthol and fresh fruit.
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2003 California Cabernet Horizontal (Adour @ The St. Regis, Washington D.C.): This was the disappointing wine of the night - decanted 1.5 hours and tasted blind with six other 2003 Cali Cult Cabs. Wine brought a little heat and underlying green notes that blew off after about 20 minutes in the glass. Wine was still a tannic beast - the blackberry and blueberry notes were slightly overshadowed by the firm tannins and heat that was present most of the way. This definitely could use a few more years in the cellar to dissipate some of the heat and to mellow the tannins a little. The secondary characteristics were definitely there, but were overshadow by the tannins and alcohol.
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Opened 4 hours before drinking. Decanted 1.5 hours, then back into bottle for 2.5 hours (driving). Needed more hours decanting or more years of aging. Still, it smelled and tasted delicious. Dark purple & blueberry color. Beautiful nose of rich, top quality fruit, and not a high alcohol waft. Balanced, smooth & long finish. A fantastic wine with many years of so close to perfect drinking.
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4/1/2024 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bought this years ago for my daughter’s birth year and finally finally was able to share it on her 21st. Notes are remarkably similar to April 2021, her 18th bday bottle so I won’t repeat.
This bottle still has plenty of life. Abreu is clearly a great choice for birth year wines that can go the distance. This still had plenty of ripe but not over ripe fruit. Tannins were present and noticeable, perhaps not as smooth as you would expect but they add character. Overall a lovely wine.
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4/3/2021 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened for my daughter’s 18th bday. Very lively fruit, big berries, a bit of spice and zing, tannins are still alive and kicking but pleasant (although not necessarily smooth), great acid. The best thing about this wine was the finish. After taking a sip the finish lasts and then fades normally, but suddenly the flavor reappears and seems to keep going for a long time.
Decanted for one hour and drank over the next two. Best at about 60-90 min.
We all enjoyed it and look forward to the last bottle of this at 21 years.
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9/6/2020 - bonedoc wrote: 94 Points
Terrific fruit, ripe, concentrated, rich... a touch of heat.
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4/6/2020 - LiteItOnFire wrote: flawed
Ugh what a bummer- a truly magically wine but flawed tonight. Thinner than the previous three bottles over the last six months displaying a more pronounced acid profile. Oh well ran a good streak for a 17 year old wine.
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3/10/2020 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 96 Points
not blind
very accessible in this stage. Powerful but balanced. refreshing acidity. some etherical notes. mint, Cassis. 96
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3/7/2020 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Occasional dinner group: Great whites and Cult Napa (@ Merlet): Dark berries and sweet spices in the bouquet. On the palate juicy dark berries, Beautiful acidity and round, soft tannin. Red berries and a good length. Great and luxurious wine which is ready now and the next 5+ years.
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1/31/2020 - peternelson wrote:
This one was poured quickly between another flight and don't have notes. All I remember was the Colgin was great. This got overshadowed. Heritage Wine Blind Tasting Finals after-party at Jean-George Las Vegas
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1/17/2020 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow wow wow. Similar notes apply. Great wine no questions about it.
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12/7/2019 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 96 Points
PnP then decanted for 2 hours and tasted throughout at Cafe Monarch. Holly crap this over delivered! WTF absolutely a stunner. Head Somm utters without being provoked, ‘whoa that is a crazy nose’.
Nose is Christmas in the glass with Hanukkah thrown in for good measure. Is that maple syrup and brown sugar that first jump from the glass? Blackberry, almost an amarone hint followed by a sweet forest floor (not intrusive and barely noticeable yet actually/strangely enhances the palate), dark black raspberry, black currant (not cassis)- damn that is really good juice and has years left for further enjoyment. Excellent and a very rare 95+ rating.
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8/31/2019 - Dalex Likes this wine: 95 Points
Consumed over 2 hours. Decanted and recorked an hour prior to dinner. This is such an unusual wine. Most be the cab franc in it that gives it a unique flavor. Wife thought it was a super Tuscan. Loved it and have one more bottle. Has a nutmeg, meaty, Syrah type texture. Some tannins remain which were a bit chunky before decanting. Typical for Napa this is a large scaled serious wine with a slightly sweet and dark fruit finish
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3/2/2019 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 94 Points
Mixed bag here. The table was a love or hate it. I thought this was fantastic. Mostly red fruit with Bordeauxish secondary notes. No tannins or oak left, red acidic fruits waning. Drink up.
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8/12/2018 - shaferguy91 wrote: 95 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Still very young.
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8/1/2018 - Pknut wrote:
Deep, concentrated, extracted, still has a dollop of sweet new oak, serious richness and concentration, but I'm not finding any elegance and this is far from pretty. The texture here is interesting because the tannins are breaking down and one can sense the grainy quality to the wine amidst the rich fruit and sweet oak. Quality Italian with Jim W. and Joe D'A.
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7/8/2018 - MTwine66 wrote: 94 Points
Very enjoyable. A Little less fruit forward (less red fruit, more dark fruit), chocolate on the nose. Very well integrated and drinking well.
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6/9/2018 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted over cocktails and served. Deep and dark in color. Thick, full body that evolved over 90 minutes, showing notes of chocolate and caramel at times. Still lots of dark fruit. Very enjoyable.
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1/17/2018 - jonleerhp Likes this wine: 94 Points
I popped this bottle on Christmas Eve and I must say I was a bit disappointed. Perhaps the bottle was a bit off but the wine was subdued with medium red fruit notes and Bordeaux like characteristics. This is not the massive, fruit-forward, Napa bomb that I thought I was going to be drinking. It was pleasant and pretty and a bit better the second night but still underwhelming as far as I am concerned
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12/14/2017 - warrenpeace wrote: 97 Points
Wow indeed ! Another brilliantly crafted wine from Abreu, especially in light of the light of the challenging vintage. Kudos !
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8/11/2017 - Thief Likes this wine: 97 Points
Delicious. Amazing power with finesse. An iconic CA cab.
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7/1/2017 - Thief Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is a special wine. It needs time in the decanter, but it will also change dramatically over several hours, so don't miss the nuances of its evolution simply by letting it sit. This is a wine you need to sit down and enjoy over a long slow evening and it deserves your attention and focus. Every trip back to the glass with unveil something new. Typical dark berries and currants that started out with a bit or concentrated raisiny character at first, but with some aeration turned to more earthy, truffled aromas and some black pepper and tobacco with sweet black cherries and figs. Rich, concentrated, impeccably balanced and with a finish that sings harmoniously on the palate. Tannins are polished and still a bit big, but are less notable with aeration and or course with food. Wish this wine was easier to obtain!!!
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2/15/2016 - michael47 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wow. Still a baby. Layers of rich ripe fruit. Chocolate, toast, smoke, dark cassis wrapped around crisps acids, sultry tannins and layers of concentration. Need to wait 5-10 years
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11/28/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
A step up from the very good 2003 Abreu Madronna, this is a more intense, fleshier experience. Concentrated, rich, fresh and opulent, the array of black dark red and blue fruits, complicated by the licorice, espresso, earth and black cherry liqueur gets your focus. This is drinking quite well today. It might improve, but why wait?
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5/29/2015 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
A little mint, nice, light fruits on the nose. The palate is a lot fruitier with very nice cassis and cranberries. Some dusty tannins and a long finish. I like it, don't love it.
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8/4/2014 - handymom wrote: 94 Points
This wine is a showstopper! The kind of wine that you taste and say "Wow! That is a great bottle of wine! Enjoyed it with others who also enjoyed it!!!!!
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7/20/2014 - shadow wrote: 99 Points
Wow, broth of dark leather, toasted spice and blackened berries
Like petting a purring lion, this is it
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7/20/2014 - Niagara wrote: 96 Points
What a difference a couple more years (or a different bottle) makes -- this is astonishing stuff -- rich and meaty on opening and then softens beautifully over several hours.
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7/20/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 98 Points
Screagle, Kapcsandy, SHS, Abreu, Maybach, Donnhoff, etc., etc. (Downtown Cleveland): This had been double decanted back to the bottle and recorked about 8 hours prior to drinking. It took a while to emerge but kept improving. As it was the last flight, it had the time to do so. The nose has blueberries, cassis and toast. On the palate, this has a lush texture. It kept unwinding showing more and more complexity. Cassis and black cherries with the slightest bit of cigar tobacco. Seamless. Long finish. Wow.
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2/3/2014 - Elkcims wrote: 97 Points
Really enjoyed this one. Great mouth feel...rich fruit, and a long 45 second finish. Had a hint of menthol early on that disappeared in an hour. This wine performed best after 3 hours . Preserved (CV'd) some for the next day and it was just as good. Will try another in a year or two.
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12/24/2013 - sdezutti wrote: 98 Points
Deep ruby color. Scents of dried herbs de provence, some chocolate, roasted coffee, currant. Still very tannic on opening, but after a couple hours in the decanter drank very nicely. Extremely full- bodied, pure Cabernet fruit. Great balance and body. The most outstanding thing to me was the amazingly profound finish. Over 60 seconds & held you at attention the whole time.
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8/18/2013 - enjoywine Likes this wine: 98 Points
Drank at BlueHour w FS amd LS. Opened and let sit on the table for about 45 minutes while we drank a Premier Cru while Burgundy. Comments all around how dark the wine was including around the edges. Would not have thought it was 10 years old. Amazing aromatics of exotic flowers and exotic spices. I would score the aromatics 99. I feel great aromatics want to cause you to continues swirl and smell and at the same time FORCE you to taste the wine. All I remember for tasting notes in fantastic balance from begging to end with a nice long 30 seconds finish plus I want more. No oakyness. Again it was gone way too soon. I felt sad looking at the glass with the reflection back down the side of the glass coated in fine sediment. I kept thinking glad I have more and have kept on the mailing list as these Abreu’s get pricey which puts this wine at a 98 for me (plus worth the price). I image this actually could get better (or maybe just different) but in no way am I not starting in on the 2004’s.
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6/13/2013 - erikm9 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Amazing wine! My first abreu and was not disappointed.
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4/16/2013 - rdsboca Likes this wine: 98 Points
Very serious wine. Minerality was amazing as was the purity of fruit. Tasted like the Latour of Napa. Powerful dark red cherry. A profound wine with a masculine muscle.
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4/6/2013 - OakvilleGrade Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and decanted at a restaurant in Virginia Beach, VA. Big, rich, and complex. But, it may have been in an adolescent phase as the fruit and secondary notes were not completely harmonious. Wet stone and earth gave way to menthol and fresh fruit.
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4/4/2013 - PGB wrote: 92 Points
massive extraction of flsvors, tannin and acidity. Nowhere near in balance but might improve to a more balanced integrated wine.
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11/23/2012 - Niagara wrote: 91 Points
a little monolithic. Very, very tight.
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10/7/2012 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 94 Points
deep garnet. Nose ws a cali cab on steroids. Taste was more mellow than expected, smooth yet still makes a statement. Some would hate this.
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10/21/2010 - runandshoot wrote: 92 Points
2003 California Cabernet Horizontal (Adour @ The St. Regis, Washington D.C.): This was the disappointing wine of the night - decanted 1.5 hours and tasted blind with six other 2003 Cali Cult Cabs. Wine brought a little heat and underlying green notes that blew off after about 20 minutes in the glass. Wine was still a tannic beast - the blackberry and blueberry notes were slightly overshadowed by the firm tannins and heat that was present most of the way. This definitely could use a few more years in the cellar to dissipate some of the heat and to mellow the tannins a little. The secondary characteristics were definitely there, but were overshadow by the tannins and alcohol.
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10/25/2008 - patwjr wrote: 98 Points
Opened 4 hours before drinking. Decanted 1.5 hours, then back into bottle for 2.5 hours (driving). Needed more hours decanting or more years of aging. Still, it smelled and tasted delicious. Dark purple & blueberry color. Beautiful nose of rich, top quality fruit, and not a high alcohol waft. Balanced, smooth & long finish. A fantastic wine with many years of so close to perfect drinking.
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